Ollie Pope is primed to lead England if captain Ben Stokes is unable to recover for the beginning of their next Test assignment in India in the new year.
Stokes is in a race against time to be fit for the first of five Tests, starting on January 25 in Hyderabad, following an operation last month in a bid to resolve a longstanding left knee problem.
Even a slight setback in his rehabilitation might lead to a promotion for his deputy Pope, who admitted he would be naive to take Stokes’ involvement from the off in the subcontinent for granted.
“I think, naturally, when you are vice-captain there is always a risk that the captain can go down,” Pope said.
“Of course, that is something that I can think about if it needs to happen but the feedback I have had from the physios since the surgery has been really positive.
“Stokesy is doing good but it would be silly for me not to prepare and think about and if it is required of me, it is something I have pretty decent clarity about, I think.”
Pope has not played competitively since June after undergoing surgery of his own, having dislocated his right shoulder while diving in the field during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
It is a familiar injury – he dislocated his left shoulder twice before surgery in 2020 – but while Pope will be watchful with his overarm throwing, he insists the issue is not in the back of his mind.
“The shoulder has been good,” he said. “I trust the operation. In terms of diving around, I know I have a stable joint now and that is the good thing in my mind.
“It can still be sore when I’m throwing but that’s something I’m going to have to put up with for a while. Having a little bit of pain is only natural after a big surgery.”
“I just need to manage my throwing. A lot of the time I am just trying to save it for games when I do get a go. I will keep throwing in training but keep as many for the games as I can.”
Pope is ready to settle back into his usual spot of number three in England’s batting order in India, having established himself in the ‘Bazball’ era, averaging 42.46 in his most recent 15 appearances.
While he has 38 Test caps, the 25-year-old is yet to feature for either of England’s white-ball sides although he has been an unused squad member for their ODI series against the West Indies.
Injuries and his increasing involvement with the Test side have impacted his chance to make a case for limited-overs selection but the Surrey batter is convinced he has a role to play going forwards.
“It is a new start when you are trying to get into a new format,” he said. “I feel my game is well suited to 50-over cricket. I had a bit of bad luck in 50-over cricket over the last couple of years.
“I feel I have a lot to offer but now I want to go and show it. That will have to be in the summer now but I feel I can really develop that side of my game.
“I’ve been really happy to be here and it is one step closer to getting in the side.”
Pope will leave the Caribbean this weekend alongside Zak Crawley, Matthew Potts, Tom Hartley and Brydon Carse. England’s squad will be refreshed with the arrivals of Moeen Ali, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid and Chris Woakes for a T20 series which starts in Barbados on Tuesday.
Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock
Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.
The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.
After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.
Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*).
"It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.
"When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"
Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.
"Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."
During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.
Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.
"I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.
"The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.
"It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."
Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series
Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.
Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.
The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.
However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.
Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.
However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.
Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century
England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.
Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.
Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.
Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies
Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.
The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.
Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.
However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.
Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.
Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.
Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists
West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.
Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.
However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.
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